Brian's Journal  Appendix
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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 IV settings for bird photography
Online help guide
Operating Manual (PDF)
Sony RX10 IV settings (detailed info from Wim Arys)
Nature photography guide (download link)

Settings for stationary birds:
"A" priority with Aperture set to f4
ISO "Auto" set between 100-1600
Focus "Flexible Spot" (S)
Drive Mode usually "Single Shot" but sometimes "Continuous" - Mid
Exposure "Centre"
Have Steady Shot enabled.
For birds in flight configure the following settings:
"S" Priority with Shutter set to 1/3200
ISO "Auto" between 100-1600
Aperture f4
Focus Area "tWide"
Drive Mode "Continuous" Mid
EV +1.7 as one is most often pointing up at a bright sky.
Metering Mode: Multi
Focus Mode: Continuous AF
AF: ON
After configuring the settings for birds in flight, do either A or B below, then do C below:
A:
Go to menu I, Reg Cust Shoot Set 1, scroll down to the bottom of the options and highlight "Import Current Settings". Then move to "Register", press OK button and all your settings will be recorded into this set.
Alternatively:
B:
Go into menu 1, page 4, "Reg Cust Shoot Set".
Open which one you want to use 1,2 or 3 and press "Enter".
Scroll down through the menu adjusting all the settings to what you want.
When finished, at the bottom of the list select "Register" and press "Enter". if you don't press "Register" your settings will not be saved.
Then:
C:
In menu 2, Page 9, Custom Key (shoot), Page 2 Set Focus Hold button to "Recall Custom Hold 1"
Now set your camera back up for your default settings (for example, for stationary birds).
Now when you see a bird in flight, just press the Focus Hold button with your left thumb and it switches the camera over to birds in flight mode. Let go the button and you're back to default (or current?) settings.

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